Hydraulic relay



Sept. 15, 1959 B. L. CALLENDER ETAL 2,904,057

HYDRAULIC RELAY Filed Aug. 4, 1958 r y. i w WZ M W 3 2a. a vi J E f 7 a F 6 m mwfl J 3 if United States Patent HYDRAULIC RELAY Bernard L. Callender, Harvey, and Raymond G. Reip,

Chicago, Ill., assignors to GPE Controls, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application August 4, 1958, Serial No. 752,911

7 Claims. (Cl. 13783) This invention relates to a hydraulic relay and more particularly to a relay which utilizes the jet pipe principle of hydraulic amplification and which has dual jet pipe orifices arranged to provide balanced jet action.

In the co-pending application of Bernard L. Callender, Serial Number 600,497, filed July 27, 1956, now Patent 2,849,013, issued August 26, 1958, a hydraulic relay is disclosed which incorporates a multiple jet pipe arrangement. The present invention, while utilizing a multiple jet pipe arrangement, incorporates additional features to provide a hydraulic relay which represents an improvement over hydraulic relays of the prior art. More specifically, the hydraulic relay of the invention includes: a disc-like rotor structure in which dual jet pipe orifices are arranged to provide dynamic balance; a shield which reduces extraneous torque loads caused by liquid turbuhence; a flexible ,shaft seal which imposes no load upon shaft rotation effort; and an overall simple, compact, rugged structural arrangement.

The object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic relay which utilizes the jet pipe principle of hydraulic amplification. t v

A more specific object is to provide a hydraulic relay having a dual jet pipe orifices arranged to provide balanced jet action.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic relay with good dynamic balance of major moving components, reduction of torque loads due to liquid turbulence, and a shaft seal which imposes no load upon shaft rotation effort.

Further objects are to provide a hydraulic relay having a structural arrangement which is simple, rugged.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration showing the hydraulic cir'cuiting provided in the relay of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view broken away, illustrating an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is the same, slightly enlarged, taken at approximately 90 from the orientation of the Fig. 2 illustration.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral identifies a hydraulic relay illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, which relay includes a housing 12, a duel jet pipe rotor 14, and end cap assemblages 16, removably alfixed to the housing by fastening means such as screws 18. The rotor 14 has a disc-like portion 20 and an integral stem, or shaft, portion 22, the latter being suspended in the housing 12 to provide rotary movement of the rotor. The disc-like portion of the rotor 14 is arranged within a circular first chamber 24 formed in the housing, while the shaft portion 22 is arranged to extend through a second chamber 26 formed in the housing and to project beyond the upper surface thereof. Surrounding the portion 20 of the rotor .14 and in spaced relation thereto as well as in spaced relation to the side wall of the chamber 24, is a shield 28 formed of a 2,904,057] Patented Sept. 15, 1959 "ice thin plate, the upper edge of which is spaced from the upper surface ofthe chamber. The rotor shaft 22 passes through a sleeve, or spacer 30, which separates a pair of ball bearings 32. There is no contact between shaft 22 and spacer 30.

The lower end of the rotor shaft 22 is formed with a passageway 34, the upper end of which connects via openings 66 with a chamber 38, formed in the sleeve 30. The lower end of the passageway 34 connects with tapered passageways 40 arranged in axial alignment in the disc-like rotor portion 20, which passageways 40 serve to provide dual jets. The end of each passageway 40 defines an orifice 42, each orifice being arranged in alignment with one of a pair of holes 44 diametrically formed in the shield '28. An inlet passageway 46 is formed in the housing '12 whereby pressurized liquid may be delivered from an inlet pipe 47 to the chamber 38, while an outlet passageway 48 is formed in the housing whereby liquid may flow from the chamber 24 into an outlet pipe 49.

Surrounding thev upper end of the shaft 22 is a liquid seal means 51 formed of a flexible tube 50, preferably compact and 1 v made of a plastic material, one end ofthe tube being secured in liquid tight manner to a circular protrusion 52 of the housing 1 2, while the other end is secured in liquid tight manner to a sleeve 54 aifixed in liquidtight manner to the shaft 22. A plurality of washers 56 are arranged about the tube 50, to re-inforce the tube against rupture which could be caused by the pressure of the liquid escaping from the chamber 38, past the sleeve 30 and the upper bearing 32' during relay operation. A cap, or cover, 57 surrounds the liquid seal means 51. It will be appreciated that the liquid seal means 51 will impose no load upon shaft rotation eflort.

A pair of receiver means, each of which includes two apertures 58 and '60, are arranged in the end cap assemblages 16, which apertures define the end of passageways 62 and 64 respectively, forming part of passageway means 66 and 68 respectively which lead to outlets 70 and 72 respectively. The latter are arranged to receive pipe couplings 74 and 76 and associated pipes, or hoses, for conduction of pressurized liquid to a device, such as -a cylinder and piston assembly 78 being controlled, or operated by the relay. Slight rotation of the rotor 14, will bring rotor orifices in alignment with either apertures 58, or apertures 60 of the receiver means depending upon the direction of rotation thereof.

An arm 80 may be secured to the exposed end of the shaft 22 whereby a torque, developed in response to a signal from a controlled means, may be applied to the rotor 14 for the rotation thereof. An adjustable set point counterbalance spring 82 may be aflixed to the arm 80.

The operation of the relay is generally similar to that disclosed in the co-pending application of Bernard L. Callender now Patent 2,849,013. Pressurized hydraulic medium, such as oil, is delivered to the chamber 38, flows into rotor passageway 34, and leaves the rotor as a jet stream via each of the orifices 42. The jet streams pass through the holes 44 of the shield 28 and impinge upon the receiver means 59. Pressurized hydraulic fluid is thus admitted to the passageways 62 and 64 for c0nd1uc tion to the controlled means, such as the cylinder and piston assembly 78. When the rotor 14 is positioned so that the dual jets are in neutral position, i.e., midway between the apertures 58 and 60, hydraulic pressure in the passageways 62 and 64 will be equal. When the rotor 14 is rotated so that the dual jets are closer to either aperture 58 or aperture 60, the pressure in passageways 62 and 64 will be unequal, thus provided a pressure dilferential for operation of the controlled means 78. The hydraulic fluid which is not jetted into either passageway relay via outlet pipe 49. The shield 28 aifords'protect'ion to the rotor 14 against the turbulence of the unused liquid flowing out of chamber 24, thus reducing extraneous torque loads uponthe rotorp I j lt will: be; apparent .from the foregoing that a relay made according to principles of the invention will achieve the objectives set forth hereinbefore.

The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought' of limitation since the inventive principles-involved are capable of assuming other forms withouts departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: I g

1. A relay comprising in combination; -a housing, a rotor in the housing. arranged for relative rotary motion therewith, said rotor being formed with at least two passageways each having an orifice fordirecting flow of pressure fluidfrom the rotor, said housing being formed with a passageway arranged to conduct pressure fluid to the rotor passageways, receiver means arranged in the housing and oflike number to the rotor orifices, each of said receiver means having at least, one aperture arranged to receive pressure fluid from a contiguous orifice, passageway means connecting said receiver apertures with pressure fluid outlets formed in the housing, a shield arranged about the periphery of the rotor and being formed with openingsin the region of the receiver means, and a pressure fluid drain outlet formed in the housing; 2. A hydraulic relay comprisingfin' combination, a housing, a disc-like rotor in the housing arranged for relative rotary motiontherewith, ,said rotor having two passageways Yin axialualignment, each of said passageways. having an orifice 'on the peripheral surface of the rotor, saidhousing being formed with a passageway arranged to conductlpress'urized hydraulic medium'to the rotor'passageways, a pair of receiver means arranged in the housing, each of said receiver means having a pair ofjap'ertures eachiof which is arranged to receive p'ressurized'uhydraulic medium from'a contiguous orifice in the rotor, passagewaymeans connecting a first aperture of eachfreceiver means, witha first outlet formedin the housingpas'sageway meansconnecting a second aperture or each receiver means with a second outlet formed in the housing a shield arranged about the periphery of therotor and. in spacedrelation' thereto, said shield having a pair of, openingseach being in the regionof a receiver means, and a1 hydraulic medium drain leading ffrom tlie region of the outer surface of the shield to a drain outlet formed in the housing. r v 3. A'hydraulic, relay comprisingv i'n combination, a housing, a rotor assembly including a disc-like'rotor and anaxially arranged shaft, said rotor being formed with two radially arranged passageways in axial alignment,

each of said passageways terminating in an orifice formed on the peripheral surface of the rotor, said shaft being formed with a passageway connecting with the passageways of the rotor, said housing being formed with first and second chambers, said rotor being arranged in the first chamber, said shaft being arranged substantially in the second chamber and having openings connecting the passageway thereof with the second chamber, passageway means formed to conduct pressurized hydraulic fluid to the second chamber, a pair of receiver means in the housing, each of said receiver means having a pair of apertures each of which is arranged to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid which is jetted from a contiguous orifice in the rotor, passageway means connecting a first aperture of each receiver means with a first outlet formed in the housing, passageway means connecting a second aperture of each receiver means with a second outlet formed in the housing, a shield arranged about the periphery of the rotor and in spaced rela-. tion to the rotor and to the surface of the first chamber. adjacent the rotor periphery, said shield having diaimetrica'lly arranged openings in the region of the receiver means, and a hydraulic fluid drain leading from the first chamber to a drain outlet formedin the housing. 4. A hydraulic, relay according toclaim 3, wherein a sealing means is arranged to prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber and about the shaft, said sealing means including a flexible tube aflixed at one end to 'said shaft and at'the other end to said housing, and a plurality of washer-like elements arranged on thetrube to resist expansion of the tube under hydraulic pressure.

5. A hydraulic relay according'to claim 3,'wherein end cap assemblages are aflixed to said housing, said end cap assemblages being formed with passageways which 'pro vide a portion of the passageway means leading from the apertures to the first and secondr outlets. V '6. A-hydr'aulic relay according to claim 3, wherein a sleeve is arranged in saidsecond chamber, said sleeve having a chamber adapted for communication with the passageway formed in said shaft, and is also open to the passageway means conducting pressurized hydraulic fluid to the second chamber. a

7. A hydraulic relay according to claim 3, wherein the upper edge of said shield is spaced from the upper surface of the first chamber.

2,849,013 Callender Aug. 26, 1958 

